Doctors and nurses at the specialist centre have treated thousands of the sickest youngsters from across the region over the last 12 months.

The dedicated children’s A&E has had a huge surge in patients – more than 40,000 compared to 33,000 at the old Booth Hall unit, in north Manchester, in the year before it closed.

There have also been almost 100,000 outpatient appointments, while 31,000 youngsters have stayed overnight .

The city centre hospital – the largest dedicated children’s unit in the country – replaced Booth Hall and Pendlebury Children’s Hospital, in Salford.

And in its first year it has also starred in a TV documentary.

Alwyn Hughes, divisional director of the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, said: “Today is a very special day as we are celebrating a year since the first patients and staff moved into the new hospital.

“I would like to thank our dedicated staff for working so hard to ensure the transition went smoothly for all involved. The hospital has attracted a considerable amount of goodwill since it opened and we hope everyone will continue to support us.

“It is a truly remarkable building, which has the latest modern equipment and facilities. It has brought a wide range of benefits for patients and their families along with our staff, who have continued their great work in caring for the children of Manchester and further afield.”

Staff and patients will be holding a birthday party – decorating the vast hospital atrium with balloons and banners, and with music from the Royal Northern College of Music.

The hospital – part of a £500m refurbishment of the city’s hospitals – was planned for more than 30 years and took five years to build.

Based in Oxford Road, it is twice the size of the Trafford Centre, has 371 beds and 17 intensive care beds.

Rosemary Morton, consultant in emergency medicine, said: “Bringing our doctors, nurses and support staff together into one department has meant we have been able to provide first class emergency care to children of all ages.

“The staff have now got used to their new workplace and are working incredibly well as a team.”

“There is much more space than in either of our previous departments at Booth Hall and MRI and we are delighted with our new surroundings and the high level of equipment used to treat our young patients.”

The Children’s Hospital TV series told the story of brave Jack Norfolk, four, from Withington. Jack suffers from kidney failure and needs four hours of dialysis treatment three times a week to clean his blood. The 12-part documentary show returns after the World Cup.